MAIN ST. Possible Due to Support from Key Sponsors

09 Apr 2006

by: Laura Squires

Leading companies make MAIN ST. the largest arts festival in Texas

FORT WORTH , Texas (March 24, 2006) – MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival, with its eclectic array of art and music, comes alive April 20-23 thanks to the help of its corporate sponsors. Every year, corporations provide generous support of the arts and art community, and this support helps make MAIN ST. one of the most celebrated free, outdoor festivals in Texas.

“We are thankful for our corporate sponsors whose donations each year allow us the opportunity to present exceptional, original art pieces to our thousands of attendees,” said Carlos de la Torre, chairman of the Festivals and Events Committee for producer Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. “People expect to have a good time at MAIN ST. and our sponsors help to achieve that goal, and also help maintain free admission with their generous contributions.”

Coors Light, presenting sponsor for the festival, is among the 30 companies and organizations lending their support to MAIN ST. “Coors Distributing Company of Fort Worth is extremely excited about our continued partnership with MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival,” said Marvin Branch, marketing manager. “Each year, the festival’s staff continues to do the impossible, making one of the best arts festivals in the nation better. We are pleased to be a part of this event which shows visitors what our community already knows -- this is one of the best downtown areas anywhere.”

The list of Official Sponsors includes:

Presenting Sponsor

Coors Light – “Where else can you invite 500,000 of your closest friends to enjoy art, music and a venue like downtown Fort Worth on a spring evening?” asked Larry Anfin, president of Coors Distributing Company of Fort Worth. MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival is presented by Coors Light for the sixth year in a row. Coors has 15 fine brands under its roof, including lagers, ales and flavored malt beverages.

Official Sponsors

American Airlines – Proud sponsor this year of the American Airlines Stage at 9th and Main, American Airlines flies more people more miles every day than any other airline in the world – more than 275,000 people every day to 250 cities in 40 countries. OK Go and Ingram Hill headline the entertainment of this stage.

Bank of America – “Bank of America is proud to partner with the festival to present MAIN ST. Creates!, an improved family fun area for the festival,” said Mike Pavell, Bank of America Fort Worth Market president. “We are working diligently with the volunteers and vendors to provide new hands-on art activities for children of all ages including Masterpiece Creation Station.” One of the world’s leading financial services companies, with 46 banking centers in Tarrant County, Bank of America is the official sponsor of “MAIN ST. Creates! Presented by Bank of America,” between 1st and 2nd Streets at the north end of Main Street (near the historic Tarrant County Courthouse). The area features a wide variety of activities and other attractions that can be enjoyed by children and parents alike.

Sewell Lexus of Fort Worth – Located at 5100 Bryant Irvin Rd., Sewell Lexus of Fort Worth has been the recipient of the prestigious “Elite of Lexus” designation since 1999. Nationally renowned for excellence in customer service, Sewell Lexus provides sales and service Monday through Saturday for both new and pre-owned vehicles. With an ongoing commitment to Fort Worth arts, Sewell Lexus is the official automotive sponsor for MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival.

Sundance Square – This 20 square-block commercial, residential and recreational district in Fort Worth’s downtown core is a place where people work, live, shop and dine. It’s the official sponsor of the “Sundance Square Main Stage,” on the Chisholm Trail parking lot between 3rd and 4th Streets. Musical headliners scheduled to perform on the stage include Otis Day and the Knights, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Patty Griffin, Brave Combo, and Kirk Whalum.

Target – “The MAIN ST. Arts Festival is a great opportunity to bring people together through the power of music and dance, and to share the experience as a community,” said Leonard Chapman, district team leader, Target. “By partnering with the Festival to bring free performances to the Fort Worth Community, Target further achieves our goal of making arts events and programs accessible to all audiences.” The upscale discount retailer is the official sponsor of the “Target Performing Arts Stage” at 5th and Main Streets, this year featuring Mass Ensemble. Target gives more than $2 million every week to strengthen families and communities across the nation, with a focus on education, the arts, social services and other vital community partnerships. Consistent with the Target philosophy of making the arts affordable and accessible for families, the Target Performing Arts Stage is programmed with entertainment that families can enjoy together.

Washington Mutual – Washington Mutual, the official financial services sponsor of MAIN ST., pledges to lend money and support to the communities around them with their long legacy of making the communities they serve better places to live, work and do business. For Washington Mutual, their success means giving back. Washington Mutual is sponsoring “South MAIN ST.,” featuring over 100 of the festival’s top artists.

NBC 5 – The first television station in Texas and the first in the state to broadcast in color, NBC 5 has for more than a half-century beamed programming throughout the region from studios on Broadcast Hill in east Fort Worth. Today, “NBC 5 News at 10:00” is the most-watched newscast in North Texas. NBC 5 is the official television station of MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival, providing promotional support and consideration to the festival before and during its four-day run.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram – Tarrant County’s Pulitzer Prize-winning paper, named Best Major Market Daily Newspaper by the Press Club of Dallas, is also the official newspaper of the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival and is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2006. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to purchase photographic prints of images by staff photographers at the Star-Telegram booth, as well as Star-Telegram posters.

Witherspoon Advertising and Public Relations – With a 60-year history as a leader in marketing communications, Witherspoon’s full-service agency team develops and executes comprehensive business-to-business and business-to-consumer communications programs. Witherspoon provides branding, marketing, advertising, public relations, design, interactive media and other services to clients operating worldwide – including advertising and public relations support for the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival.

D Magazine – Operating for more than 30 years, D Magazine is known for its award-winning editorial, signature events, subscription promotions, media partnerships and charity sponsorships. The magazine distributes more than 72,000 magazines monthly and is the official Texas glossy magazine of MAIN ST.

About Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc.

MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival is produced by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. Now in its 25th year of service, Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. is an advocate for downtown progress and excellence, with the mission of creating a vibrant, healthy and attractive center in which to work, live and play. The organization presents a number of events annually, including the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival and the Sundance Square Parade of Lights, with an annual economic impact exceeding $19 million. Together, these events serve to raise aesthetic values, provide sponsorship income opportunities, create opportunities for community involvement and raise the overall quality of promotional activities in downtown while working collaboratively with downtown businesses and residents.